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Rita guides you through a most loving and sacred yoga practice. Her gentle nature and lightness allow for the most wonderful unfolding to take place in her class. As a fellow student and teacher I am always appreciative of her gifts and radiant smile she shares with others. ... Aarti Ganesh Read more...

Essential Guidelines for Yogic Practices

Yoga is a science that aims at the harmonious development of the body, mind and soul. It is a methodical way of attaining perfection, through control of the different elements of human nature, both physical and psychic. It is a process of continuous transformation. Inner perfection comes about gradually. As you progress in Yoga, the ego is progressively replaced by the spirit. The seeker is freed from the tyranny of the lower mind and attains the state in which there is union with the absolute. Through Yoga you can increase energy, vigour vitality, longevity and a high standard of health. Its practices will help control emotions and passions and bring about serenity, calmness and wonderful concentration if you are earnest in your Sadhana or practice.

ASANA

Asanas, the body postures, were founded by the ancient Rishis of India. It is the third limb of Ashtanga Yoga. Patanjali, the founder of Ashtanga Yoga defines Asana as "Steady and comfortable posture". If you are firmly established in Asanas, you will not feel the body at all. When you do not feel the body, qualities of the pairs of opposites will not affect you. When you are free from the effect of the pairs of opposites such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain, you will be able to take up the next higher step – Pranayama, and practise it with an unruffled mind. Therefore you should select a posture which is easy and comfortable and in which you can remain for long, say, three hours. Asanas affect different systems in the body like muscular, respiratory, circulation, digestive, excretory, reproductive, endocrine and nervous system. This, however, should not make one presume that Yoga Asanas are merely physical exercises. There is something Spiritual, something divine at the bottom of this system, for it awakens the sleeping Kundalini Shakti, helps the Yogic student in establishing himself fully in Meditation and finally makes him experience cosmic consciousness.

Here are some essential guidelines on performing Asanas:

• All Asanas should be practised in the morning and not in the evening. The reason for this emphasis is that in the evening the body is tired and you will not be able to practise with the exhilaration and freshness felt in the morning. If you wish to do muscular exercises you may do so in the evening.

• There should be absolutely no feeling of depression or fatigue either before or during the performance of Asanas. The amount of energy expended in performing Asanas should on no account strain your system. This is an important point to remember if you wish to enjoy the benefits of the practice in the fullest measure.

• You need not go through an elaborate course every day, but must be regular and systematic in the little that you do, and be a master of those practices.

• All Yoga Asanas must be practised on an empty stomach. However, there is no harm if a small cup of milk, light tea or coffee is taken before commencing.

PRANAYAMA

Pranayama is the fourth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. It begins with the regulation of breath and ends in establishing full and perfect control over Prana, the life current or inner vital force. With the practice of Pranayama, Nadis, channels of Prana, are purified. Breath is gross Prana. By establishing control over the gross Prana, you can easily gain control over the subtle Prana. Control of breath also brings about control of mind, and he who has controlled his mind has also controlled his breath. If one is suspended, the other follows. If the breath is unsteady, the mind is also unsteady. If the breath is steady and calm, the mind is also steady and calm.

Therefore, Pranayama steadies the mind and makes it fit for Concentration. The practice of Pranayama should be systematic and well-regulated. Just as it takes a long time, patience and perseverance to tame a tiger, so also you will have to tame the Prana gradually.

Given below are preliminary instructions on Pranayama practice:

• It is preferable to have a separate room for your practice, which is dry and airy, and not damp or ill-ventilated. The practice can be carried on by the side of a river or a lake, at the top or foot of a hill or a secluded part of a pleasant and beautiful garden, or at any place where the mind gets concentrated easily due to good spiritual vibrations. Whatever place you finally select, take particular care to see that it is free from chill and strong draught, mosquitoes, bugs, ants, etc.

• A Pranayama practitioner’s diet should be light and moderate.

• The rule of celibacy or moderation will ensure quicker and better results.

• Do not miss your practice even for a single day except if you are seriously ill. The practice of Pranayama should be commenced in spring or autumn. In the beginning you can have two sittings: morning and evening, and as you advance in your practices, you can have four: morning, midday, evening and midnight.

• A small cup of milk or fruit-juice can be taken with much advantage before commencing practice and another cup of milk and some light food half an hour afterwards.

• To start with, do mild Pranayama with only inhalation and exhalation for a month.

• Practise the various exercises one by one, step by step. Never be in a hurry. Never go beyond your capacity. Do not take up the higher exercise before completely mastering the previous one. This is the master-key to success in Pranayama.

• There should be a feeling of joy and exhilaration after the practice is over.

• Do not take a bath for at least half an hour after the practice.

• Do not expect results after a few days if you practise Pranayama for two or three minutes. You must practise for at least fifteen minutes daily in the beginning for some months.

• Success in Pranayama can be gauged by the duration of Kumbhaka or Retention. By slow and steady practice you will be able to retain the breath for at least five minutes. Real concentration of mind is achieved when the breath is suspended.

• You can practise Asana and Pranayama side by side. In the course of time you will acquire perfection in both.

You know that you are achieving proficiency in Pranayama; when your body becomes light and slender, your eyes acquire a shine and your countenance glows, your voice becomes sweet and melodious, you can retain the breath for longer periods of time, you can hear Anahata sounds, the digestive fire is augmented, you enjoy perfect health and are cheerful and happy. Then one should know that the Nadis are purified and success in Hatha Yoga is approaching.

PRATYAHARA AND DHARANA

The fifth and sixth limbs of Ashtanga Yoga are Pratyahara (abstraction or sense withdrawal) and Dharana (concentration). From Pratyahara starts the real inner spiritual life, for this is when the external world is shut out and the mind is turned inwards. Yama, Niyamas, Asana and Pranayama all prepare the aspirant for the practice of Pratyahara. A sustained practice of these four limbs takes the mind to the point where it can be easily detached. It is difficult to say where Pratyahara ends and Dharana begins. When the senses are withdrawn, the mind naturally assumes inner concentration and eventually merges into Meditation.

DHARANA (CONCENTRATION)

• Concentration is holding the mind on some particular object and an unbroken flow of knowledge in that subject is Meditation. Concentrate gently either on the lotus of the heart (Anahata Chakra) or at the space between the two eyebrows (Trikuti). Close your eyes. The seat of the mind is Ajna Chakra at Trikuti. The mind can be easily controlled if you concentrate on Trikuti. Bhaktas should concentrate on the heart. Yogins and Vedantins should concentrate at Ajna Chakra. Crown of the head (Sahasrara) is another seat for concentration. Some Vedantins concentrate here. Some Yogins concentrate at the tip of the nose (Nasikagra Drishti). Stick to one centre in concentration and never change it. Your Guru will select the centre for concentration. If you do not have a Guru, you can select it yourself.

• If you find it difficult to concentrate on the heart, the tip of the nose, the space between the eyebrows or the crown of the head, select an external object for the purpose. You can concentrate on the tick-tick sound of a watch, the flame of a candle or any other object which is pleasing to the mind. Or you can concentrate on the blue sky, the light of the sun, the all-pervading air, the sun or the moon. If you experience any headache or pain in the skull or any part of the body due to the strain of concentration on a particular place or object, shift the centre of concentration or change the object.

• Even if the mind runs about during concentration, do not bother. Let it run. Slowly bring it to your object of concentration. In the beginning the mind may run fifty times, two years of practice will reduce the number to twenty; another three years of continued and persistent practice will reduce the number to nil. The mind will then be completely fixed in divine consciousness. It will not run outwards even if you try to bring it out. Improvement in concentration will be visible only little by little.

DHYANA

Dhyana or Meditation follows Concentration. Dhyana should come naturally on account of serenity of mind induced by the practices of Pratyahara and Dharana. Meditation opens the door of the mind to intuitive knowledge and many powers. During Meditation all worldly thoughts are shut out from the mind and the mind is saturated with divine thoughts and divine presence.

In the beginning, all kinds of negative thoughts will also arise in the mind as soon as you sit for Meditation. Aspirants often leave the practice of Meditation on account of this. Remember that if you try to drive away a monkey it attempts to pounce on you with vengeance. Even so the old Samskaras and thoughts try to attack you with vengeance and redoubled force only at the time when you try to raise good, divine thoughts. Do not be discouraged. Go on with your practice of Meditation regularly. These thoughts will thin out and eventually perish.

When you practise Meditation, lights of various colours will appear in the forehead. These are Tanmatric (elemental) lights. Every element has its own colour: water is white, fire is red, air is green and ether is blue. So the colourful lights are due to these Tattwas (elements) only. Sometimes you may see a big blazing Sun or moon or lightning in front of the forehead. Do not mind these, but try to dive deep into the source of the lights. Sometimes Devatas (deities), Nitya Siddhas (eternally perfected Yogis) and Amara purushas (immortal beings) will appear in Meditation. Receive them all with due honour. Bow down before them. Get advice from them. Do not be frightened. They appear before you to give you Spiritual help and encouragement.

During Meditation you will get into rapture or ecstasy. It is of five kinds: the lesser thrill, momentary rapture, flooding rapture, transporting rapture and all-pervading rapture. The lesser thrill will raise the hairs of the body like goose flesh. The momentary rapture is like production of lightning moment by moment, like waves breaking on the seashore. The flooding rapture descends rapidly on the body and breaks. Transporting rapture is strong and lifts the body up to the extent of launching it into air. When the all-pervading rapture arises, the whole body is completely surcharged and blown like a full bladder.

If you can meditate for half an hour, you will be able to engage yourself with peace and spiritual strength in the battle of life for one week through the force of the Meditation. Such is the beneficial result of Meditation. As you have to move with different minds of peculiar natures in your daily life, get the strength and peace from Meditation and you will have no trouble and worry.

Keep the following guidelines in mind for your Meditation practice:

• Have a separate Meditation room under lock and key. Keep it sacred. Burn incense here morning and evening. Place photos of your Ishta Devata or Guru. Place your Asana in front of the picture. Keep some inspiring books also such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, etc. When you repeat your Mantra here, the powerful vibrations will be lodged in the ether of the room. In six months’ time you will feel peace and purity in the atmosphere.

• Get up at four in the morning in Brahmamuhurta. It is very favourable for spiritual contemplation. In the early morning the mind is calm, pure and quite refreshed after slumber. It is comparatively free from worldly impressions and can be moulded very easily. The atmosphere is also charged with more Sattwa at this particular time. You can also have a sitting just before retiring to bed.

• Wash your hands, feet and face with cold water if you find it difficult to take a bath before the practice.

• You can have good Meditation on Sundays because this is a holiday and the mind is free. Do vigorous Meditation on Sundays.

• While Meditating do not strain your eyes or the brain, and do not struggle with the mind. Relax. Gently allow the divine thoughts to flow. Steadily think of the point of Meditation.

• If there is much strain in your Meditation, reduce the duration of each sitting for a few days. Do light Meditation only. When you have regained the normal tone, again increase the period. Use your common sense throughout your Sadhana.

Place your foot step by step on the different rungs of the ladder of Yoga. Make a program of practices and stick to these seven commandants in everyday’s life- Everyday, Systematically, Scientifically, Regularly, Without fail, With interest, Nothing is impossible.